Preview R3: Changes vs. North Melbourne

[ams4crows]

Crows/Roos just became match of the round!
Can't wait...I reckon it'll get an even bigger crowd that the Sheffield Shield!

Its good they won so AFL media can't say how soft our opening draw is, also good the Stkilda beat Geelong. Makes our wins look a bit better.

 

[Golumless]

This look like a real danger game

I disagree. This is one game where if Adelaide is a legit finals contender, they should be winning without too much fuss.

Might be a canary in the coalmine that Melbourne are going to be shit this year.

 

[Sizzlepack]

I was at the North vs Melbourne game. North did a really good job of getting it from inside to out, and got on top inside attacking 50 as the game progressed. They're very nippy around the contest. Might be a nice little test of our defensive structures. But put enough pressure on them and they should cough it up.

Melbourne were atrocious, zero method inside 50 and so, so careless with the ball.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

I disagree. This is one game where if Adelaide is a legit finals contender, they should be winning without too much fuss.

Might be a canary in the coalmine that Melbourne are going to be shit this year.

Should win , but if we’re a bit off norths midfield will punish us.

Good test for our midfield

 

[CrowBloke]

No time for fumbling in 2025, game closes in fast. 36 CBA’s for just 2 centre clearances across 2 games, with only 3 more around the ground in 8 quarters. If Peatling isn’t getting clearance or tackling, we have better offensive options.

I've read the discussion on Peatling with interest.
He was solid last week, not so much yesterday, but the totality of his output is not flash (even if better than McHenry/gone and Murphy/Em.)
I'm old = old-fashioned, too, and believe in rewarding performance but also creating consequences for non-performance. It's be rough to drop Peatling after one ordinary game, just as it's rough that Nankervis is not in the side, but pressure for team places is good/healthy. If Peatling has another ordinary game he'd have to be under consideration to be dropped.

I’m not desperate to see him out,

Nor me.

think he’ll be a good piece for us this year but would I rather see Sid play a full game in the midfield? 1000%.

In theory, yes, but Draper might not yet have the tank although he has the speed and skills.
Do we know if he has full-game stamina yet? Burgess is probably saying not.
He took one bump yesterday and had to come off, but they brought him back. He's gonna cop plenty more of those!

Would I rather see Nank - who I consider one our unique young talents - come in. Yes I think so.

I can see why Peatling will probably be retained, but also why Nankervis deserves an extended go.
It's a good problem to have!

 

[cmndstab]

I think Peatling has been a bit better than some here are giving him credit for. He plays the kind of frenetic role where he's not always going to be clean, but I think he's been useful offensively and more than useful defensively. He's one of our highest pressure act players this year (average 18.5 per game, equal 3rd with Soligo behind Dawson on 19 and Neal-Bullen on 23) and has often ended up nullifying an opposition clearance, or knocking the ball out of an opposition player's grasp so that someone else on our team can get a stat.

I'm not concerned about him at all.

 

[1970crow]

And nothing. The post was benign/harmless.

Why, please? Nicks has often used non-mids as sub, but the Peatling idea is ok.

Again, why please? In case he's injured? Crouch is playing well and doing a good job for us.
(So is eg Fogarty. Do we need to see what we look like without Fogarty?)

Yes, would be a good choice.

It needs to be a mid if Draper is going to play as a midfielder. It could be a forward if he plays a hybrid role, do maybe rest Tex, but otherwise Curtin would be a step backwards and I can’t see any of TT, Fog, Rachele, ANB or Keays making way. But as I said, I’d like to get a look at the midfield without Crouch in it.

 

[1970crow]

I think Peatling has been a bit better than some here are giving him credit for. He plays the kind of frenetic role where he's not always going to be clean, but I think he's been useful offensively and more than useful defensively. He's one of our highest pressure act players this year (average 18.5 per game, equal 3rd with Soligo behind Dawson on 19 and Neal-Bullen on 23) and has often ended up nullifying an opposition clearance, or knocking the ball out of an opposition player's grasp so that someone else on our team can get a stat.

I'm not concerned about him at all.

I know a couple of posters have mentioned him as a potential out, which I don’t agree with. BUT, if Draper was to ascend to a full game and it not be courtesy of Tex being rested, someone has to be demoted to sub.

 

[cmndstab]

I know a couple of posters have mentioned him as a potential out, which I don’t agree with. BUT, if Draper was to ascend to a full game and it not be courtesy of Tex being rested, someone has to be demoted to sub.

I could live with him being sub this week. Draper has been playing a similar role in his limited gametime, so it's probably fair.

But I still see him very much part of our best 22 going forward.

 

[steve9798]

I would give Keane another month but on his current form, Butts will be a more than adequate replacement.

I worry about his composure and decision making when the pressure increases in finals.

 

[1970crow]

I could live with him being sub this week. Draper has been playing a similar role in his limited gametime, so it's probably fair.

But I still see him very much part of our best 22 going forward.

Agree. But reality is that there’s a few players nipping at the heels of the 23. Dowling and Taylor were good last year, Pedlar is talented and has speed and grunt when up and going, Jones worked his way through the backline to have a good season on a wing before injury and both Bond and Nank proved they are more than capable at AFL level behind the ball. Our current 23 looks good and seems well balanced and are the correct group to open the season (maybe argue Nank/Milera), but with the group trying to get in, you shouldn’t be able to afford too many down weeks. Cumming more a concern at this moment, but there’s less pressure for a wing spot.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I know Sid Draper came back on but I wonder how his corkie will settle down during the week?

He might have the week off I reckon

Nank will prob come in for him

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Agree completely.

Keane has too many "oh shit" moments, good teams will punish them.

Butts is more reliable for me.

Milera - good game, but what's his role?

With Milera and Laird back, I feel like we're short a genuine attacking option out of defence.

Peatling was good, but not great, Cumming very similar, but gotta give them a month or so to find their feet.

Essendon are terrible.

Butts is a handy player but doesn’t intercept

Modern footy is all about getting the ball back from opponent which Keane is very good at

He makes errors but overall he’s very good

 

[Cromulant]

He might have the week off I reckon

Nank will prob come in for him

Given he came back on and didn't look hampered at all I dont think we'll spell him just yet.

We do have a short break leading into Gather Round.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think Peatling has been a bit better than some here are giving him credit for. He plays the kind of frenetic role where he's not always going to be clean, but I think he's been useful offensively and more than useful defensively. He's one of our highest pressure act players this year (average 18.5 per game, equal 3rd with Soligo behind Dawson on 19 and Neal-Bullen on 23) and has often ended up nullifying an opposition clearance, or knocking the ball out of an opposition player's grasp so that someone else on our team can get a stat.

I'm not concerned about him at all.

Yeah stick with him for sure

Wouldn’t surprise me if the coaches were really happy with him

Sid might have a week off after that big hit , the fact that he went down to the rooms tells me there could be a bit of damage and they just ‘helped’ him get through

 

[1970crow]

He might have the week off I reckon

Nank will prob come in for him

I’d bring in Dowling as sub. Can cover forward, mid or wing. If we lose a defender, Cumming can go back, so outside ruck and key position, we’re fully covered. Nank is more limited and we don’t have anyone behind the ball that can really move up the ground.

 

[1970crow]

Given he came back on and didn't look hampered at all I dont think we'll spell him just yet.

We do have a short break leading into Gather Round.

Been a while, but I had a bad cork and missed a week, even tried acupuncture, but pretty sure I played the game out. It gets worse after cooling down from memory.

 

[SydCrow]

Yeah he is, he also turns it over a great deal more.

The two kinda go together. We saw Butts trying to play up the ground last year and turning it over more. We all remember Luke Brown going on adventures that never ended well .

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[pjcrows]

This won't be a walk in the park.

 

[Shaunbkk]

Sholl??? Sub. No way.
Peatling or even cumming

Please explain why Cumming is not talked about - the least noticeable player out there this week Nankervis way better

 

[kick it to me_]

Laird has been very good so far this year reverting to the backline.

The ground ball gets in the backline. He scooped it up in the D50 and cleared it to milera or hinge, and they clear the ball neatly, not under pressure. I was like... I get it now.

I wanted him dropped after the horrible preseason.

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[adelaidecrows]

Make no mistake now, This is a danger game. North could come to play and with a talented side we may not get our own way. I am happy North arent a pack of plebs this year though. two crapola teams is enough.

 

[AFC979810]

He might have the week off I reckon

Nank will prob come in for him

Don't mind that at all. Let it fully heal. Then give him a full game against Gold Coast.

 

[MrBarry]

Make no mistake now, This is a danger game. North could come to play and with a talented side we may not get our own way. I am happy North arent a pack of plebs this year though. two crapola teams is enough.

Our best at AO is more tthan enough to beat them.

 

[Captain Furious]

Butts is a handy player but doesn’t intercept

Modern footy is all about getting the ball back from opponent which Keane is very good at

He makes errors but overall he’s very good

Do all our tall defenders need to intercept though? Worrell and Murray very good at it but also defend well. For balance, think we improve by having a defender able to shut out the opposition best key forward.

Keane took 1 mark for the day, had 3 kicked on him by a ruckman, made skill errors and bad decisions. While we have our full squad available, there should be consequences to playing a bad game.